6 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
The minister of God must first drink of the living fountain himself
if he would firmly and intelligently lead others to that fountain. If he
would present those for whom he labors, perfect in Christ, he must
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himself be perfect. Divine power alone will reach and melt the sinner’s
heart, and bring him, a penitent, to Christ. Neither Luther, Melancthon,
Wesley, Whitefield, nor any other great reformer and teacher, could of
himself have gained such access to hearts as to accomplish the work
that these men accomplished. But God spoke through them. Men felt
the influence of a superior power, and involuntarily yielded to it.
God calls upon those who are lifting up the standard of truth
before others to themselves exemplify its precepts in their daily life.
Such a course would charm into believing many who have intrenched
themselves behind the breast-works of infidelity. The influence of a
true Christian character is like a cheering ray of sunlight that pierces
to the remotest corner the darkness into which it is allowed to enter.
The light emanating from the example of the Christian minister should
not be fitful and uncertain, like the flash of a meteor, but it should have
the calm, steady radiance of the heavenly stars.
The true minister of Christ should be encircled by an atmosphere
of spiritual light, because he is connected with the world of light, and
walks with Christ, who is the light of the world. Arguments may be
resisted, persuasion and entreaty may be scorned, the most eloquent
appeals, supported by the rigor of logic, may be disregarded; but a
living character of righteousness, a daily piety in the walks of life, an
anxiety for the sinner wherever found, the spirit of truth burning in the
heart, beaming from the countenance, and breathing from the lips in
every word, constitute a sermon which is hard to resist or to set aside,
and which makes the strongholds of Satan tremble. Ministers who
walk with God are clad with the panoply of heaven, and victory will
attend their efforts.
Those who are engaged in the great and solemn work of warning
the world, should not only have an individual experience in the things
of God, but they should cultivate love for one another, and should
labor to be of one mind, of one judgment, to see eye to eye. The
absence of this love greatly pleases our wily foe. He is the author of
envy, jealousy, hatred, and dissension; and he rejoices to see these vile
weeds choke out love, that tender plant of heavenly growth.